Self-reported Diagnosis Of Hypertension Research Articles

The association of hypertension among married Indian couples: a nationally representative cross-sectional study

Mounting evidence demonstrates that intimate partners sharing risk factors have similar propensities for chronic conditions such as hypertension. The objective was to study whether spousal hypertension was associated with one’s own hypertension status independent of known risk factors, and stratified by socio-demographic subgroups (age, sex, wealth quintile, caste endogamy). Data were from heterosexual married couples (n = 50,023, women: 18–49 years, men: 21–54 years) who participated in the National Family Health Survey-V (2019–2021). Hypertension was defined as self-reported diagnosis of hypertension or average of three blood pressure measurements ≥ 140 systolic or 90 mmHg diastolic BP. Among married adults, the prevalence of hypertension among men (38.8 years [SD 8.3]) and women (33.9 years [SD 7.9]) were 29.1% [95% CI 28.5–29.8] and 20.6% [95% CI 20.0–21.1] respectively. The prevalence of hypertension among both partners was 8.4% [95% CI 8.0–8.8]. Women and men were more likely to have hypertension if their spouses had the condition (husband with hypertension: PR 1.37 [95% CI 1.30–1.44]; wife with hypertension: PR 1.32 [95% CI 1.26–1.38]), after adjusting for known risk factors. Spouse’s hypertension status was consistently associated with own status across all socio-demographic subgroups examined. These findings present opportunities to consider married couples as a unit in efforts to diagnose and treat hypertension.

Abstract P287: Incorporating Behavioral and Social Determinants of Health Variables Into a Machine Learning Model Predicting Cardiometabolic Disease

Introduction: Machine learning models hold potential for improved cardiometabolic disease prediction and more efficacious prevention and intervention efforts. Current models are limited by use of cross-sectional datasets and variables (features) consisting of diagnostic criteria (such as blood glucose or hemoglobin A1c in type 2 diabetes models) and overlook health behaviors and social determinants of health (HB-SDH). Hypothesis: Machine learning models built with HB-SDH variables will accurately predict type 2 diabetes. Methods: We used data from 2,493 participants without diabetes in the Adolescent to Adult Health study (mean age = 15.5 years at baseline (1994), 40.9% male) who contributed blood samples and anthropometric measures in wave 4 (2008) or 5 (2016-2018). We used an 80/20 split to form separate training and test datasets; the training dataset was used to build random forest and XGBoost models, and performance with respect to classifying diabetes was evaluated in the test dataset. We first built a model using 15 demographic and biomarker features as a comparator for our second model, which included 34 HB-SDH features measured during adulthood but no biomarkers. Results: Five-hundred sixteen participants developed type 2 diabetes. In XGBoost, the comparator model was found to predict diabetes with 92.6% accuracy (95% CI: 89.8%, 94.8%) and area under the curve (AUC) = 0.8165. The HB-SDH model had 88.7% accuracy (95% CI: 85.4, 91.4%) and AUC = 0.7631. Using random forest, the comparator model had 93.0% accuracy (95% CI: 90.3, 95.2%) and AUC = 0.8376, while the HB-SDH model had 89.8% (95% CI: 88.6, 92.4%) accuracy and AUC = 0.7650. The top 10 variables in ascertaining classifications in the random forest model included self-reported general health, waist circumference, self-reported anxiety diagnosis, self-reported hypertension diagnosis, income, BMI, education level, change in weight, financial scarcity, and experienced stigma, while in the XGBoost model these were self-reported general health, experienced stigma, financial scarcity, self-reported anxiety diagnosis, experienced weight stigma, waist circumference, income, self-reported hypertension diagnosis, sugar-sweetened beverage intake, and BMI. Conclusions: Machine learning models built with behavioral and social determinants of health variables perform comparably to models with biomarkers and identify salient features for diabetes risk. The features that factored into classification performance were similar between random forest and XGBoost models. In this population, HB-SDH of relevance included socioeconomic indicators, sugary beverages, anxiety, and experiencing stigma, in addition to adiposity and hypertension. This finding needs to be replicated in diverse cohorts that may experience different HB-SDH.

Relationship of several serum folate forms with the prevalence of hypertension

Background: The relationship of different serum forms of folate with the prevalence of hypertension remains uncertain. We aim to examine the association of several folate forms (5-methyltetrahydrofolate [5-mTHF], unmetabolized folic acid [UMFA], and MeFox [an oxidation product of 5-mTHF]) with the prevalence of hypertension. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 19,237 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2018. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, or a self-reported diagnosis of hypertension by a physician, or current anti-hypertensive treatment. Results: The prevalence of hypertension was 39.3%. When serum 5-mTHF was assessed as quartiles, a significantly lower prevalence of hypertension was found in participants in quartiles 3 to 4 (≥34.0 nmol/L) (odds ratio [OR], 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76–0.97), compared with those in quartiles 1 to 2. When serum UMFA was assessed as quartiles, a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension was found in participants in quartile 4 (≥1.0 nmol/L) (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.03–1.31), compared with those in quartiles 1 to 3. When serum MeFox was assessed as quartiles, a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension was found in participants in quartiles 3 to 4 (≥1.4 nmol/L) (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.06–1.34), compared with those in quartiles 1 to 2. Conclusions: Higher serum 5-mTHF levels were associated with a lower prevalence of hypertension, while higher serum UMFA and MeFox levels were associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension. If further confirmed, our findings highlight the importance of monitoring different serum forms of folate and may help guide future clinical trials and nutritional guidelines on folic acid supplementation for prevention of hypertension.

Living Alone Increases the Risk of Hypertension in Older Chinese Adults: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study.

Cross-sectional studies have suggested a potential association between living alone and hypertension risk, but longitudinal evidence remains limited. We aimed to investigate the correlation between living alone, alterations in living arrangements, and hypertension risk among older adults utilizing a population-based longitudinal design. The study included 8 782 older adults (≥65 years) without hypertension from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Participants were surveyed during the 2008 and 2011/2012 waves and were subsequently followed up in the next wave. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, or a self-reported diagnosis of hypertension by a physician. Cox proportional hazards model was used to explore the association between living alone and hypertension. Additionally, we analyzed how switching living arrangements during the follow-up period affects hypertension. During a median follow-up of 2.8 (1.7-3.0) years, 2 750 hypertension events occurred. Compared with living with family, the hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) of living alone was 1.19 (1.06-1.33) for hypertension. Similarly, persisting in living alone during follow-up increased the risk of hypertension compared to continuing to live with family (HR 1.24; 95% CI: 1.06-1.45). Compared to married participants who continued to live with family, widowed/divorced participants who transitioned from living with family to living alone experienced a higher risk of hypertension (HR 1.21; 95% CI: 1.00-1.47). Stratified analyses showed that living alone was only associated with an increased hypertension risk for participants aged >80, men, and rural residents. Living alone at baseline or persisting in living alone during follow-up correlated with increased hypertension risk. Divorced or widowed individuals who transitioned from living with family to living alone were still at risk. These results indicate that social support and living arrangements may be important in preventing hypertension in older adults.

Abstract 54: Newly Initiation of Antihypertensive Medication on Reduction of Incident Dementia: Emulation of Target Trials Based on the Health and Retirement Study

Background: Although antihypertensive medication use is associated with a lower risk of dementia in observational studies, such an effect is rarely found in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). As midlife high blood pressure is more predictive of incident dementia than hypertension in late life, so midlife hypertension may be the target for intervention. However, no such an RCT has been conducted to prevent incident dementia through reducing high blood pressure from midlife. Therefore, we aimed to emulate a target trial with an observational study design to estimate the effect of initiating antihypertensive medication from midlife on reducing incident dementia. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that newly initiating antihypertensive medication among midlife adults with hypertension reduces incident dementia. Methods: New-user design was used to emulate a target trial using data from the Health and Retirement Study from 1996 to 2018 with non-institutional dementia-free participants aged 45 to 65 years without taking antihypertensive medication in past two years. Participants with information of self-reported hypertension diagnosis and new use of antihypertensive medication, as well as no dementia based on algorithm were included in the analysis and represented group with/without initiating antihypertensive medication. An intention-to-treat approach was applied for analysis, and sequential emulation was used to increase the efficiency of intention-to-treat analysis. Proportional hazards models were applied to estimate the effect of initiating antihypertensive medication on incident dementia. Inverse probability of treatment and censoring weights were created to adjust for confounding and selection bias due to loss to follow-up, and death was considered as a competing event. Another emulated target trial with the same specifications was conducted among late-life adults aged 66 years or older for comparison. Results: A total of 3,151 non-unique participants (baseline mean age: 59.0 ± 4.0 years, 54.6% (n=1,719) women, 78.3% (n=2468) Whites, 71.4% (n=2,249) initiating antihypertensive medication) were included in the analysis. Initiating antihypertensive medication showed benefit in reducing incident dementia over a total of 22-year follow-up, with a reduction of risk by 19% (hazards ratio=0.81, 95% confidence interval: 0.66, 0.99). No significant reduction was observed for initiators of antihypertensive medication from late life. Conclusions: Initiating antihypertensive medication from midlife, but not from late life may reduce incident dementia. Future studies are warranted to estimate the effect of blood pressure lowering in midlife through other means of intervention in reducing incident dementia.

Association Between Weight Status and Rate of Cognitive Decline: China Health and Nutrition Survey 1997-2018.

There is a close relationship between weight status and cognitive impairment in older adults. This study examined the association between weight status and the trajectory of cognitive decline over time in a population-based cohort of older adults in China. We used data from adults aged ≥55 years participating in the China health and nutrition survey (1997-2018). Underweight (body mass index [BMI] ≤ 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5-23 kg/m2), overweight (23-27.5 kg/m2), and obesity (BMI ≥ 27.5 kg/m2) were defined using the World Health Organization Asian cutpoints. Global cognition was estimated every 2-4years through a face-to-face interview using a modified telephone interview for cognitive status (scores 0-27). The association between BMI and the rate of global cognitive decline, using a restricted cubic spline for age and age category, was examined with linear mixed-effects models accounting for correlation within communities and individuals. We included 5 992 adults (53% female participants, mean age of 62 at baseline). We found differences in the adjusted rate of global cognitive decline by weight status (p = .01 in the cubic spline model). Models were adjusted for sex, marital status, current employment status, income, region, urbanization, education status, birth cohort, leisure activity, smoking status, and self-reported diagnosis of hypertension, diabetes, or Myocardial Infarction (MI)/stroke. In addition, significant declines by age in global cognitive function were found for all weight status categories except individuals with obesity. In a cohort of adults in China, cognitive decline trajectory differed by weight status. Aslower rate of change was observed in participants classified as having obesity.

The effect of population-based blood pressure screening on long-term cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality in Germany: A regression discontinuity analysis.

Hypertension represents one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality globally. Early detection and treatment of this condition is vital to prevent complications. However, hypertension often goes undetected, and even if detected, not every patient receives adequate treatment. Identifying simple and effective interventions is therefore crucial to fight this problem and allow more patients to receive the treatment they need. Therefore, we aim at investigating the impact of a population-based blood pressure (BP) screening and the subsequent "low-threshold" information treatment on long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. We examined the impact of a BP screening embedded in a population-based cohort study in Germany and subsequent personalized "light touch" information treatment, including a hypertension diagnosis and a recommendation to seek medical attention. We pooled four waves of the KORA study, carried out between 1984 and 1996 (N = 14,592). Using a sharp multivariate regression discontinuity (RD) design, we estimated the impact of the information treatment on CVD mortality and morbidity over 16.9 years. Additionally, we investigated potential intermediate outcomes, such as hypertension awareness, BP, and behavior after 7 years. No evidence of effect of BP screening was observed on CVD mortality (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.172 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.725, 1.896]) or on any (fatal or nonfatal) long-term CVD event (HR = 1.022 [0.636, 1.641]) for individuals just above (versus below) the threshold for hypertension. Stratification for previous self-reported diagnosis of hypertension at baseline did not reveal any differential effect. The intermediate outcomes, including awareness of hypertension, were also unaffected by the information treatment. However, these results should be interpreted with caution since the analysis might not be sufficiently powered to detect a potential intervention effect. The study does not provide evidence of an effect of the assessed BP screening and subsequent information treatment on BP, health behavior, or long-term CVD mortality and morbidity. Future studies should consider larger datasets to detect possible effects and a shorter follow-up for the intermediate outcomes (i.e., BP and behavior) to detect short-, medium-, and long-term effects of the intervention along the causal pathway.

The Association of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Depression of an adult Austrian Population

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): “Austrian Research Fund (COMET K-project No. 825329)” Introduction Depression has been recognized as a cardiovascular (CVD) risk factor. However, depression is often under-recognized and larger attention should be given to this frequent problem, also in relation to CVD sequelae. There are differences in prevalence of CVD risk factors and CVD care and prevention in Europe. Therefore, it is vital to identify the focus of CVD prevention to implement specific and country-based programs to reduce CVD burden, especially for people with depression. Purpose The aim of this study is to investigate the association between common CVD risk factors hypertension, body mass index (BMI), and smoking with the severity of depression in an adult Austrian population and to characterize sex-related differences. Method This current thesis is a cross-sectional study examining the baseline data of the population from the BioPersMed (Biomarkers of Personalized Medicine) cohort at our Medical University. The initial non-probability recruitment started between 2011 and 2015, resulting in a study population of 1,022 adult men and women who live in the greater Graz area. Three CVD risk factors were examined for this paper and assessed by trained doctors and nurses at baseline: self-reported diagnosis of hypertension, self-reported smoking status, and BMI (kg/m2) by measuring the height and weight of each participant. The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire) was analyzed by recording the total score value in three groups. Descriptive statistics, statistical correlation analysis, and an ordinal regression analysis was performed. Results 977 participants were included in the data analysis, with a mean age of 57.3 years. More than half of the participants (56%) were female. Results show a significant association between hypertension and the severity of depression (p<0.01) and between males and all three CVD risk factors, and between females and overweight. People with hypertension and elevated BMI, adjusted for age, sex, diagnosis of depression, and smoking were more likely to fall into a higher level of depression (BMI: increase of 0.033 in the log odds, p<0.5; hypertension: increase of 0.339 in the log odds, p<0.01). Moreover, men were more likely to show a lower level of depression than women (decrease of 0.435 in the log odds, p<0.5). Conclusion This is the first cross-sectional study to examine the association between CVD risk factors and the severity of depression in an adult Austrian population. Further research for causality and longitudinal analyses in a larger sample size are recommended to thoroughly examine and confirm these findings. The results are an important indication for CVD prevention programs in Austria to incorporate specific screening (CVD and Depression) and management of cardiovascular risk factors in their protocols and readapt them according to depression severity.

Adherence to the DASH diet by hypertension status in Mexican men and women: A cross-sectional study

Improving dietary patterns is a cornerstone of the non-pharmacological management of hypertension. Evidence about the adherence to healthy dietary patterns at the population level is scarce. We aimed to analyze the adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet among Mexican men and women by hypertension status. We used data from the 2012 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey (n = 2560). Using self-reported diagnosis of hypertension and blood pressure measurements, we identified participants without, with undiagnosed, and diagnosed hypertension. We calculated DASH scores (total and dietary components) based on a single 24-hour recall and analyzed differences in adherence across hypertension status using sex-specific multivariable Poisson regression models. Overall, regardless of hypertension status, adherence to the DASH score was low, with 35% of men and 38% of women with diagnosed hypertension adhering to recommended guidelines; lower adherence was observed in men (21.8%) and women (27.2%) with undiagnosed hypertension, and with no hypertension (26.8% in men, 26.3% in women). In multivariable models for men, the prevalence of adherence to the total DASH diet was 29% lower in undiagnosed adults versus adults without hypertension (RP 0.71; 95%CI 0.50,0.99). Specifically, adherence to fruits, total dairy, and animal protein was lower in undiagnosed men. Among women, the adherence to the DASH diet was similar across hypertension status in multivariable models. Mexican adults had low adherence to DASH, regardless of hypertension status. Strategies to improve adherence to DASH are needed, focusing in patients with hypertension but also as a preventive measure for the population.

Association of socioeconomic status with hypertension prevalence and control in Nanjing: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe role of socioeconomic status (SES) on hypertension prevalence and hypertension control has gotten much attention but with conflicting results. This paper aimed to quantify the association of SES with both hypertension prevalence and hypertension control rate in Nanjing, China.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted using multistage random sampling on 60,283 adults aged more than 18 years between March 2017 and June 2018. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg or self-reported diagnosis of hypertension or respondent's report of taking antihypertensive medications. The controlled hypertension was defined by systolic BP < 140 mmHg and diastolic BP of < 90 mmHg among the subjects that self-reported exhibiting hypertensive and taking antihypertensive medications. The associations between SES with hypertension prevalence and hypertension control were quantified using generalized mixed model regression analysis and reported as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsThere was a high prevalence of subjects with primary educational level (49.6%) or unemployed and retired (49.5%) or lower annual household income level (44.9%) in each SES group, respectively. After adjustments for potential confounding factors, there were higher odds of hypertension among those with primary educational level (OR = 1.56), but lower odds for controlled BP (OR = 0.51). Higher odds of hypertension could be found among unemployed and retired, and higher odds of controlled BP was observed in the mental laborers or students (OR = 1.30), compared with the other categories, respectively. The lower-income group was more likely to be hypertensive (OR = 1.35) and less likely to have controlled hypertension (OR = 0.73).ConclusionSocioeconomic status played an important role in hypertension prevalence and hypertension control among adults in Nanjing, China. Strategies for hypertension prevention and control should especially focus on people in the vulnerable lower SES groups.

Abstract P3-12-21: Blood pressure and the subsequent risk of breast cancer: Findings from the Health Examinees-Gem Study

Abstract Background The prevalence of breast cancer and hypertension has been steadily increasing over the past years, and evidence has suggested a positive association between hypertension and the risk of breast cancer. However, scarce studies have addressed the existing relationship of blood pressure components and the risk of incidence breast cancer. Therefore, we aimed to assess the association between systolic and diastolic blood pressure and the risk of breast cancer in a population-based cohort.MethodsThe research included 87,280 women aged 40 to 69 years from the Health Examinees-Gem (HEXA-G) prospective cohort study between 2004 and 2013. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured based on baseline physical examination and then categorized based on clinical hypertension international guidelines. Additionally, hypertension was defined based on self-reported hypertension diagnosis or use of anti-hypertensive medication were obtained from a baseline questionnaire. Breast cancer incidence was followed through the Korean Cancer Center Registry. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the association between SBP and DBP with breast cancer adjusted for family history of breast cancer, parity, age at birth of a first child, age at menopause, physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking status, self-reported history of hypertension, and hormone replaced therapy used, additionally for postmenopausal women. Results A total of 1058 breast cancer cases were observed over a median follow-up of 8.4 years. Diastolic blood pressure was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in the total population (p for trend= 0.011). In postmenopausal women, DBP equal to or over 85mmHg was positively associated with breast cancer risk (HR: 1.58 95%IC 1.18 - 2.12), whereas no association was found in premenopausal women (HR: 0.87 IC95% 0.56 - 1.35)). Similar results were found when excluding all cases of self-reported hypertension and excluded participants diagnosed with breast. cancer within the first two years of the follow-up period. Results for systolic blood pressure did not significantly affect breast cancer risk for all women or by menopausal status. Conclusion These results suggest that higher diastolic blood pressure is related to an increased subsequent risk of breast cancer. This proposes that DBP is an important factor in cancer prevention in postmenopausal women, independently of having a previous hypertension diagnosis. Further studies need to be conducted to confirm these results and clarified the utterly potential mechanisms. Citation Format: Katherine De la Torre, Woo-Kyoung Shin, Dan Huang, Hwi-Won Lee, Aesun Shin, Jong-koo Lee, Hae-Young Lee, Daehee Kang. Blood pressure and the subsequent risk of breast cancer: Findings from the Health Examinees-Gem Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-12-21.

Mean blood pressure according to the hypertension care cascade: Analysis of six national health surveys in Peru

BackgroundWhile we have good evidence about the hypertension care cascade, we do not know the mean blood pressure (BP) in these groups. We described the mean BP in four groups based on the hypertension care cascade at the national and sub-national levels in Peru. MethodsDescriptive analysis of six national health surveys. Blood pressure was measured twice and the second record herein analysed. We defined four groups: i) people with self-reported hypertension diagnosis receiving antihypertensive medication; ii) people with self-reported hypertension diagnosis not receiving antihypertensive medication; iii) people unaware they have hypertension with blood pressure ≥140 or 90 mmHg; and iv) otherwise healthy people. FindingsThere were 125,066 people; mean age was 49.8 years and there were more women (51.7%). At the national level, in men and women and throughout the study period, we observed that the mean systolic BP (SBP) was the highest in people unaware they have hypertension; the mean SBP was similar between those with and without antihypertension medication, yet slightly higher in the former group. At the sub-national level, even though the mean SBP in the unaware group was usually the highest, there were some regions and years in which the mean SBP was the highest in the untreated and treated groups. InterpretationThese results complement the hypertension care cascade with a clinically relevant parameter: mean BP. The results point where policies may be needed to secure effective interventions to control hypertension in Peru, suggesting that improving early diagnosis and treatment coverage could be priorities. FundingWellcome Trust (214185/Z/18/Z).

’HYPERTENSION PREVALENCE, AWARENESS, TREATMENT AND CONTROL STATUS AMONG THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS OF BANGLADESH WORKING AT PRIMARY HEALTH CARE LEVEL

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypertension and awareness, treatment and control status of hypertension among the primary healthcare providers of Bangladesh. Design and method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 1912 senior stuff nurses (SSN) and para-health professionals who came to attend a 3-day training in Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS) during November 2017 to April 2018. The study population was selected by the Government from all districts of Bangladesh. Data were collected using STEPS questionnaire of World Health Organization. Two blood pressure measurements were obtained by trained observers by use of a mercury sphygmomanometer. Information on history of hypertension and use of antihypertensive medications was obtained by use of a standard questionnaire. Hypertension was defined as systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure equal or more than 140/90 mmHg or a self-reported diagnosis of hypertension and/or use of antihypertensive medications according to JNC 7 guidelines. Results: The mean age of the population was 37.63 ± 9.5 years and their average duration of employment was 13.8 ± 9.5. Among the total, 29.7% (95% CI, 2 7.7–31.7) of the healthcare providers had hypertension, 67.4% were aware of their hypertension and 88.7% of them were taking antihypertensive medication. But only 40.8% attained blood pressure control. The overall prevalence of hypertension was slightly higher among men than among women. The prevalence of hypertension was found increased with age. The age specific prevalence of hypertension was 16.3% (95% CI, 14.6–18.0), 22.9% (95% CI, 21.0–24.8), 42.1% (95% CI, 39.9–44.3) and 49.8% (95% CI, 47.6–52.0) among 20–29, 30–39. 40 49 and equal or more than 50 years age groups respectively. Added salt intake, diabetes mellitus, central obesity and generalized obesity were significantly associated with hypertension (p &lt; 0.05). Age and diabetes mellitus was two significant predictors of hypertension. Conclusions: Hypertension is highly prevalent among the healthcare providers of Bangladesh working at primary healthcare level. More than two-third are aware that they have hypertension but controlled rate by anti-hypertensive is low. These results underscore the urgent need to develop national strategies for detection and treatment of hypertension among these service providers.

Factors associated with awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among 3579 hypertensive adults in China: data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey

BackgroundThe prevalence of hypertension is high and rising in China, but most people with hypertension do not have their blood pressure under control. This study investigated hypertension awareness, treatment, and control and their associated factors among Chinese adults.MethodsData collected from the 2011 China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) from 12,991 Chinese adults were used. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg, self-reported prior diagnosed hypertension, or taking antihypertensive medications. Hypertension awareness, treatment, and control were defined as a self-reported diagnosis of hypertension, current use of antihypertensive medication, and blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to examine factors associated with hypertension awareness, treatment, and control.ResultsOverall, 3579 (27.6%) of the CHNS adult participants had hypertension, of whom 55.7% were aware of their diagnosis, 46.5% were treated with antihypertensive medications, but only 20.3% had their blood pressure under control. Higher hypertension treatment was associated with older age (OR = 2.57; 95%CI, 1.65–4.02), urban residency (1.50; 1.14–1.97), living in the Eastern region (1.52; 1.14–2.01), and being overweight/obese (1.99; 1.39–2.84). Hypertension awareness was associated with similar factors as hypertension treatment but was also associated with being female (1.37, 1.12–1.66). Poor hypertension control was associated with being overweight/obese (0.56; 0.42–0.76) and minority ethnicity (0.52; 0.31–0.86).ConclusionHypertension is a major public health challenge in China. The prevalence of hypertension awareness, treatment, and control are still low despite existing public health policies and programs to reduce the burden of hypertension. More intensive hypertension screening and treatment programs are warranted in China.

Blood lead level and risk of hypertension in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999\u20132016

Lead is a heavy metal without a biological role. High level of lead exposure is known to be associated with hypertension, but the risk at low levels of exposure is uncertain. In this study, data from US NHANES 1999–2016 were analyzed. Adults with blood lead and blood pressure measurements, or self-reported hypertension diagnosis, were included. If not already diagnosed, hypertension was defined according to the AHA/ACC 2017 hypertension guideline. Results were analyzed using R statistics version 3.5.1 with sample weight adjustment. Logistic regression was used to study the association between blood lead level and hypertension. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated. Altogether, 39,477 participants were included. Every doubling in blood lead level was associated with hypertension (OR [95%CI] 1.45 [1.40–1.50]), which remained significant after adjusting for demographics. Using quartile 1 as reference, higher blood lead levels were associated with increased adjusted odds of hypertension (Quartile 4 vs. Quartile 1: 1.22 [1.09–1.36]; Quartile 3 vs. Quartile 1: 1.15 [1.04–1.28]; Quartile 2 vs. Quartile 1: 1.14 [1.05–1.25]). In conclusion, blood lead level is associated with hypertension in the general population with blood lead levels below 5 µg/dL. Our findings suggest that reducing present levels of environmental lead exposure may bring cardiovascular benefits by reducing blood pressure.

10-Year community prevalence and trends of severe asymptomatic hypertension among patients with hypertension in the USA: 2007–2016

BackgroundSevere asymptomatic hypertension (SAH) is associated with significant health cost, morbidity and mortality. AimEstablish the nationwide prevalence, trends and associated sociodemographic characteristics of SAH among patients with hypertension in the USA. MethodsWe utilized the National Health and Nutrition Examination data collected over five survey cycles (2007–2016). Included were participants aged 20–80 years with self-reported diagnosis of hypertension. SAH was defined as having a mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥180 mmHg and/or mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥120 mmHg at the time of examination. The Chi square test was used to compare prevalence across different categories. Associations between sociodemographic variables and SAH were assessed using multivariate binary logistic regression. ResultsThe prevalence of SAH among patients with hypertension is 2.15% (95% CI 1.80–2.56), mainly explained by isolated mean SBP≥180 mmHg (86% of all cases), with no statistically significant change between 2007: 2.66% (95% CI 2.10–3.36) and 2016:2.61% [95% CI 1.73–3.94), p-trend = 0.17. Increasing age (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04–1.09), NH Blacks (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.37–3.54), BMI< 25 (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.48–4.28), lack of health insurance OR 4.92% (95% CI 2.53–9.54) and never married individuals (OR = 2.59%, 95% CI 1.20–5.60) were more likely to have SAH, comparatively. There was no significant association between duration of hypertension and SAH. ConclusionThe prevalence of SAH in the USA is 2.15% and has been stable over the past decade. Our study underscores the importance of identifying barriers to screening and treatment of hypertension which is a major treatable risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Severe hypertension in China: results from the China PEACE million persons project.

Introduction:People with severe hypertension have high risk of target organ damage, yet few studies focus specifically on this population. We sought to assess the characteristics, prevalence, awareness, and treatment patterns of severe hypertension among middle-aged adults in China.Methods:We enrolled 2 660 666 participants aged 35–75 years from 31 provinces between 2014 and 2018 in the cross-sectional China Patient-Centered Evaluative Assessment of Cardiac Events Million Persons Project. Severe hypertension was defined as SBP of at least 160 mmHg or DBP of at least 100 mmHg. Awareness and treatment were defined as self-reported diagnosis of hypertension and current use of antihypertensive medication, respectively. Analyses were completed in 2019.Results:Our sample included 2 618 757 adults with a mean age of 55.6 years (SD 9.8), 59.6% of whom were women. A total of 378 457 (14.5%) participants had severe hypertension, of whom 222 533 (58.8%) were untreated. The age--sex-standardized rate of severe hypertension was 11.6% based on the 2010 Chinese Census data. Advanced age, female sex, current drinking, obesity, lower income, diabetes, and prior cardiovascular events were associated with higher risk of severe hypertension (all P < 0.01). Of untreated participants with severe hypertension, only 60 484 (27.1%) were aware of their conditions. Among participants with severe hypertension despite treatment, 84.7% reported taking one class of antihypertensive medication; only 15% reported taking guideline-recommended combination therapy.Conclusion:Many millions of people in China have severe hypertension and the vast majority are unaware of their condition and undertreated. There are immense opportunities to improve outcomes in this high-risk group.

Epidemiological characteristics and related factors of frailty in older Chinese adults with hypertension: a population-based study.

Hypertension is highly prevalent in the elderly and represents a major risk factor for cardiovascular complications such as coronary heart disease, stroke, and cognitive dysfunction. Frailty is a common geriatric syndrome characterized by increased risk of disability, hospitalization, and mortality. However, little is known about the frailty status in older adults with hypertension. Thus, we aimed to explore the epidemiological characteristics and related factors of frailty in older Chinese adults with hypertension. The current study included data collected from participants in the China Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Study. Frailty was defined using the frailty index. Hypertension was defined as SBP at least 140 mmHg, DBP at least 90 mmHg, current treatment with antihypertensive medication, or a self-reported diagnosis of hypertension. Frailty index was positively correlated with age. The prevalence of frailty was significantly higher in hypertensive patients than in normal controls. The prevalence of frailty in older adults with hypertension was 13.8% in China. The awareness and treatment of hypertension was higher in frail individuals than in nonfrail individuals. The control rate of hypertension did not differ significantly between the two groups. Logistic analysis showed that older age, poor marital status, coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cerebrovascular disease, diabetic mellitus, osteoporosis, hearing loss, lack of exercise, depression, cognitive impairment, and higher white blood cell count were factors independently related with frailty in older participants with hypertension. The current study provides the first evidence regarding the status of frailty in older Chinese adults with hypertension.

Hypertension and diabetes in Zanzibar \u2013 prevalence and access to care

BackgroundCardiovascular diseases are among the most common causes of hospital admissions and deaths in Zanzibar. This study assessed prevalence of, and antecedent factors and care access for the two common cardiovascular risk factors, hypertension and diabetes, to support health system improvements.MethodsData was from a population based nationally representative survey. Prevalence of hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg or a self-reported diagnosis of hypertension; diabetes was defined as a fasting blood glucose ≥6.1 mmol/L or a self-reported diagnosis of diabetes. Care-cascades for hypertension and diabetes were created with four stages: being tested, diagnosed, treated, and achieving control.Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to evaluate individual-level factors – including symptoms of mental illness - associated with having hypertension or diabetes, and with progressing through the hypertension care cascade. Whether people at overt increased risk of hypertension or diabetes (defined as > 50 years old, BMI > 30 kg/m2, or currently smoking) were more likely to be tested was assessed using chi squared.ResultsPrevalence of hypertension was 33.5% (CI 30.6–36.5). Older age (OR 7.7, CI 4.93–12.02), some education (OR 0.6, CI 0.44–0.89), obesity (OR 3.1, CI 2.12–4.44), and raised fasting blood glucose (OR 2.4, CI 2.38) were significantly independently associated with hypertension.Only 10.9% (CI 8.6–13.8) of the entire hypertensive population achieved blood pressure control, associated factors were being female (OR 4.8, CI 2.33–9.88), formally employed (OR 3.0, CI 1.26–7.17), and overweight (OR 2.5, CI 1.29–4.76).The prevalence of diabetes was 4.4% (CI 3.4–5.5), and associated with old age (OR 14.1, CI 6.05–32.65) and almost significantly with obesity (OR 2.1, CI 1.00–4.37). Only 11.9% (CI 6.6–20.6) of the diabetic population had achieved control.Individuals at overt increased risk were more likely to have been tested for hypertension (chi2 19.4) or diabetes (chi2 33.2) compared to the rest of the population.Symptoms of mental illness were not associated with prevalence of disease or progress through the cascade.ConclusionHigh prevalence of hypertension and suboptimal management along the care cascades indicates a large unmet need for hypertension and diabetes care in Zanzibar.

Hypertension burden and challenges across the hypertension treatment cascade among adults enrolled in HIV care in northern Tanzania.

Failure to address hypertension among people living with HIV (PLWH) may undermine the significant progress made toward reducing mortality among this high-risk population in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Here, the authors report hypertension prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment among patients enrolled in HIV care in Tanzania. Patients attending an HIV clinic were consecutively screened for hypertension. Hypertension was defined as follows: a single blood pressure measurement ≥160mmHg systolic or ≥100mmHg diastolic, two measurements at separate visits ≥140mmHg systolic or ≥90mmHg diastolic, or self-reported hypertension diagnosis. The authors screened 555 patients, and 19.6% met hypertension criteria. Among a subset of 91 hypertensive participants, 44 (48.4%) reported previous blood pressure measurements, 32 (35.2%) were aware of diagnosis, 10 (11.0%) reported current antihypertensive use, and none had controlled blood pressure. Addressing barriers along the hypertension treatment cascade must be a top priority to improve cardiovascular outcomes among PLWH in SSA.